CFF 2017 Rankings -- 55-51

  

   COLLEGE FOOTBALL FOCUS

       2017 TOP 60 RANKINGS

 It isn’t always easy, determining (read that as guessing) who will have the best teams in college football. Last year we had two of the four playoff teams, but all four of the CFP teams were in our top six, including Washington at 4 – the only publication that had the Huskies making the playoffs. A number of factors go into these rankings – talent, experience, strength of schedule. It’s up to us to figure out which are the most important, and rank  the teams accordingly. One note – this is how we see the teams finishing up the end of the season, not who has the strongest bunch heading into the year. If we did it that way, Alabama or Ohio State would be 1-2 every single season.

 We will unveil five teams per day, until we reach the top 10, at which point we will release 10-5 on one day and the College Football Playoff participants the final day. Today we bring you teams 55-51.

51. Minnesota (9-4) -- A whole lot of coaching transition -- most notably head coach P.J. Fleck, who comes over from Western Michigan -- means the Gophers have turned the page on the Tracy Claeys era (who knew there was such a thing?) -- even though it was a pretty successful one. Fleck took Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl last year and was respectable against Wisconsin, so now we will see if his enthusiasm plays as well in the Twin Cities. A solid ground game, led by Rodney Smith, and a grudging defense (22.1 ppg) will be the Gophers calling cards, but you Fleck will want to put his offensive stamp on things. That means maybe a little more passing than expected, even with a new quarterback. Michigan and Northwestern on the road will be challenging, but the Gophers could once again flirt with nine victories. If they do that, then everyone will know that the boat is rowing in the right direction. FAST FACT -- The Gophers recovered a nation's-best 16 fumbles in 2016.

Zach Abey (Getty Images)

52. Navy (9-5) -- Houston and South Florida may have generated more headlines the past two seasons, but the Middies are the ones with back-to-back division titles. It could be a bit more difficult to make it three straight with a schedule that includes jaunts to Memphis, Temple and Houston, but given the adversity the Middies faced last season -- 102 missed games by starters/regulars -- nothing is impossible. There is experience on offense, though QB Zach Abey, who started the final two games last year, is young. How he does as a full-time starter bears watching. LB D.J. Palmore led the team in sacks (6) and tackles for loss (11.5), and is the emotional leader for a unit that returns six starters. FAST FACT -- Navy's victory over Houston last season was its first over a top 10 opponent since 1984.

53. Miami (Ohio) (6-7) -- Momentum may or may not mean anything, but if it does then watch out for the RedHawks. Miami won its final six contests before dropping a one-point bowl decision, and is flush with optimism for a team that is the most experienced in the MAC, and third nationally. Dual threat QB Gus Ragland was a big part of the late season success, and he has the controls to himself now. The corner tandem of Heath Harding (11 PBU, 4 INT) and Deondre Daniels (6 PBU) is one of the best around. A late September road trip to Notre Dame should show the nation what kind of mettle Miami, a real contender for the league crown, has. FAST FACT -- The RedHawks became the first team in NCAA history to open 0-6 and finish 6-0.

54. Michigan State (3-9) -- Crash and burn is a term thrown around all the time, but it is a perfect description of what happened to the Spartans last season. After three straight seasons of double-digit wins, MSU couldn't get out of its own way in 2016. Offseason turmoil (players kicked off the team in the wake of a sexual assault investigation) hasn't allowed for a smooth summer, and questions about the overall talent still loom. RB L.J. Scott is one of the few keepers, however, gaining 994 yards and scoring six times. He should have a more pronounced role as the offense breaks in a new quarterback. Normally strong, the defense allowed 27.8 ppg last year and generated almost no pressure on opposing quarterbacks -- and lost Malik McDowell to the NFL Draft. This ranking is pretty much based on the belief that Mark Dantonio will get things going again, but there is not a lot of faith in the talent currently on the roster. MSU will need to play over its head to really challenge for the division, and will likely be satisfied with a return to the postseason and respectability. Trips to Michigan and Ohio State won't make that very easy. FAST FACT -- The Spartans had just 11 sacks in 2016, ranking 124th of 127 teams nationally.

Nick Stevens (The Coloradoan)

55. Colorado State (7-6) -- The Rams weren't far from a really solid season last year, losing by five at Boise State and by a field goal at Air Force. Being the most experienced squad in the Mountain West could reverse their fortunes, as could an offense that averaged 35.3 ppg a year ago and returns QB Nick Stevens, the conference leader in passing efficiency (171.3). CSU will have a brand-spanking new stadium to brag about, and opens against Oregon State, which will not be a pushover. It also faces Colorado in Denver and travels to Alabama, but gets Boise State at home in the season's penultimate weekend. FAST FACT -- The Rams 37-0 victory over Fresno State was their first shutout since 1997.

 We will be back tomorrow with teams 50-46.

 Here are teams ranked 60-56